Question

What are the two main ways in which common salt (sodium chloride) occurs in nature.

Answer 1

Hint :To answer this question, we first need to understand what chemical compounds are. A chemical compound is a substance made up of numerous identical molecules bound together by chemical bonds and made up of atoms from different elements. As a result, a molecule made up of only one element's atoms is not a compound.

Complete Step By Step Answer:
Sodium chloride – Sodium chloride, or salt, is an ionic substance with the chemical formula NaCl, which represents a 1:1 ratio of sodium and chloride ions. The salt that is most responsible for the salinity of seawater and the extracellular fluid of many multicellular organisms is sodium chloride. Table salt is extensively used as a condiment and food preservative in its edible form. Many industrial processes employ large amounts of sodium chloride, and it is a key source of salt and chlorine compounds used as feedstocks for further chemical syntheses. De-icing of roadways in sub-freezing temperatures is a second important application of sodium chloride.
Occurrence in nature -
The common salt (sodium chloride) can be found in nature in two forms: sea water and rock or mineral formations of halite. Approximately 80% of seawater is made up of dissolved salt. The mineral halite, which is used to make common salt, is available in a solid natural form. Solar evaporation can be used to create common salt from seawater. Under the influence of the sun and wind, seawater or natural brine is held in artificial ponds and allowed to evaporate to its maximum saturation point. This causes the brine solution to crystallize, resulting in the creation of a salt crust. Excess water is then removed in order to separate salt using various procedures such as washing and drying, and finally the resulting salt product is separated using silica.
So, we conclude that the chemical name for salt is sodium chloride. Sodium is an electrolyte that controls how much water your body holds. Nerve impulses and muscle contractions are also affected by sodium. Dehydration, excessive sweating, and other causes of sodium loss are treated or prevented by sodium chloride.

Note :
Maintaining the electrolyte balance of fluids in a person's body requires sodium chloride. According to the US National Library of Medicine, electrolyte levels can become too low or too high, causing dehydration or overhydration. For thousands of years, sodium chloride has been used to taste and preserve foods. Salt acts as a preservative, preventing rotting and keeping items like ready-to-eat meats and cheeses safe to consume.